Musicians

Brian Wilson: The Troubled Genius of The Beach Boys

Bill Thompson

Brian Wilson is widely regarded as one of the most influential music figures of our time.

As a founding member of The Beach Boys, Wilson led a music revolution that went far beyond the ‘60s “California sound” or even pop music generally.

But fame and success carry a price. And for Wilson, the price he paid was his mental health and later physical well-being, as well Substance abuse further complicated his life.

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Yet Wilson continued to create and innovate – and perform. And in 1991, he wrote a memoir, a book he called Wouldn’t It Be Nice. That’s when I met him.

Get your copy of Brian Wilson’s book

So here now, from 1991, Brian Wilson.

Brian Wilson Is 82 now. He stopped touring in 2022, and his family has said he suffers from dementia.

Motown’s Mary Wilson And Her Supreme Faith

Bill Thompson

She was the little girl from Detroit with big dreams And along with some friends with similar dreams, Mary Wilson became a founding member of the greatest Motown girl group ever: the Supremes.

Originally the Primettes in 1959, they became the Supremes in 1961 when they signed with Berry Gordy.

It took three years before their first #1 hit record, but the Supremes racked up nearly a dozen more in the ‘60s.

By 1970 the Supremes were a different group. Florence Ballard was gone, so was Diana Ross. Mary Wilson kept the Supremes going into the ‘70s.

But perhaps her biggest success was yet to come.

It was immense success as an author. Her 1986 book Dream Girl became a smash bestseller.

Get your copy of Mary Wilson’s book

And in 1990 Wilson followed it up with another book, Supreme Faith. I met her that fall to talk about it.

So here now, from 1990, Mary Wilson.

The Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Mary Wilson died in 2021. She was 76.

Marvin Hamlisch: The Way He Was

Bill Thompson

The Sting. The Way We Were. A Chorus Line.

Composer Marvin Hamlisch was well-known for all of those, and much more.

Get your copy of Marvin Hamlisch’s book

Hamlisch is one of only a handful of entertainers to have ever won the “EGOT” — an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. And he’s one of only two people to have won all four of those, plus a Pulitzer Prize.

I met him in 1992, when he wrote a memoir of his decades in show business, starting with his early years at Juilliard. He called it The Way I Was.

So here now, from 1992, Marvin Hamlisch.

Marvin Hamlisch died in 2012, at age 68.

Janis Ian: First Musical Guest When “SNL” Premiered in 1975

Bill Thompson

Tomorrow night, September 28, is the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” It is, in fact, the start of the iconic show’s 50th season.

The show premiered on October 11, 1975. The first guest host was comedian George Carlin, and the show featured two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian.

She was 24 at the time, but had already established herself as a talented singer-songwriter.

Get your copy of Janis Ian’s book

At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on major TV shows.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir, a book named after her first big hit – Society’s Child.

So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 72 now. Her latest studio album was released in 2022.

Margaret Whiting, America’s Post-War Singing Sensation

Bill Thompson

In the years immediately following World War II, one of America’s most popular entertainers was a young singer named Margaret Whiting.

She was born into an entertainment family. Her father, Richard Whiting, was the guy who wrote “Hooray for Hollywood,” “Ain’t We Got Fun” and many other hits.

Margaret’s sister was a popular singer and actress, and her aunt was a recording artist in the 1920s.

Little Margaret was “discovered,” you might say. at age seven by Johnny Mercer, who was one of the co-founders of Capitol Records.

Get your copy of Margaret Whiting’s book

She had her first million selling record at age 20 And within a decade was among the country’s most popular singers.

She was a star on radio, on television, – even had a TV series of her own for a short time.

In 1987, the then-63-year-old Margaret Whiting wrote her autobiography, a book named after one of her most popular songs: It Might As Well Be Spring.

In the mid to late ‘80s America was still grappling with the AIDS epidemic, a faltering economy, the Reagan revolution, and an ongoing evolution of pop music.

In a moment, Margaret Whiting.

So here now, from 1987, Margaret Whiting.

Margaret Whiting died in 2011. She was 86.

How André Previn’s Teenage Gig at MGM Led to Oscar Glory

Bill Thompson
Photo by Bert Verhoeff for Anefo

The executives at MGM studios who hired a 17-year-old kid in 1946 probably had no idea that that kid would go on to win four Academy Awards and ten Grammys as a composer, conductor, and performer.

Andre Previn was still in high school when MGM gave him a job in their music department, doing piece work. His first official movie credit came in 1949, and over the next dozen or so years Previn was involved in creating the musical scores for over 50 MGM films.

Get your copy of Andre Previn’s book

After leaving Hollywood Previn established himself as a talented conductor for several major orchestras, and a jazz pianist.

In 1991 he wrote a memoir of his 16-year MGM career, a book he called No Minor Chords. And that’s when I had the chance to interview him.

So here now, from 1991, Andre Previn.

Andre Previn died in 2019. He was 89.

A Legacy Revealed: Hank Williams’ Daughter Jett

Bill Thompson

Country music legend Hank Williams was married twice. Between those two marriages Williams had a relationship with a woman named Bobbie Jett. And they had a daughter, who was born five days after Williams’ death from heart failure.

But it took some 30 years for that baby girl to learn the real story of her parentage.And it took years of court fights for the full story to emerge, and for her to obtain her share of the Hank Williams legacy.

Get your copy of Jett Williams’s book

Jett Williams became a professional musician in her own right, and in 1990 she told her story in an autobiography called Ain’t Nothin’ As Sweet As My Baby. That’s when I met her.

So here now, from 1990, Jett Wililams.

Jett Williams is 71 now. Her last record was released in 2017.

Raffi: How a Children’s Singer Became an International

Bill Thompson

The3 Washington Post once referred to Raffi as “the most popular children’s singer in the English-speaking world.”

And generations of fans would probably agree.

Raffi has been entertaining youngsters since the 1970s, when he turned his folk singing ambition to address a younger audience, inspired by his wife, a kindergarten teacher.

Get your copy of Raffi’s book

In 1998 Raffi published his autobiography, called The Life of a Children’s Troubadour. And that’s when I had a few minutes with him.,

So here now, from 1998. Raffi.

Raffi will be 76 in July. He still performs publicly, and his most recent album is “Penny Penguin” released earlier this year.

Unlock Your Creative Potential: Insights from Judy Collins

Bill Thompson

Over a seven-decade career Judy Collins has proven to be one of America’s most popular musicians. But she isalso the author of several best selling books, she’s a painter, she even directed a documentary film that was nominated for an Oscar .

She is unquestionably a well of creativity. But here’s the thing – she says you can be as creative, too.

Her 2005 book Morning, Noon and Night explained her philosophy of creativity.

I have always had so much fun interviewing Judy Collins, and this interview was maybe one of my favorites. So here now from 2005 Judy Collins.

Judy Collins will be 85 in May. Her most recent album was released in 2022.

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John Denver

Maya Angelou

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Echoes of a Legend: John Denver’s Autobiography

Bill Thompson
Photo by RCA Records

When John Denver died in a plane crash in October 1997, the world lost not just a popular singer, but a songwriter whose work touched the hearts of millions.

Among the 300 or so songs that he recorded, some 200 he wrote. He had 33 gold records, and was uncommonly successful in crossing genre lines, from country to adult contemporary to the Billboard Hot 100. .

Both Colorado and West Virginia have adopted John Denver songs as official state songs.

In 1994, John Denver published his autobiography, called Take Me Home. And that’s when I met him.

So here now, from 1994, John Denver.

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Glen Campbell

Jimmy Buffett

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